Skip to main content

Full text of "Combining performance and outcome indicators can be used in a standardized way: a pilot study of two multidisciplinary, full-scale major aircraft exercises."

See other formats


Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF 

trauma, resuscitation 
£t emergency medicine 



ORIGINAL RESEARCH Open Access 



Combining performance and outcome indicators 
can be used in a standardized way: a pilot study 
of two multidisciplinary, full-scale major aircraft 
exercises 

Monica Radestad^", Helene Nilsson^, Maaret Castren\ Leif Svensson^, Anders Ruter"^ and Dan Gryth^ 



Abstract 

Background: Disaster medicine is a fairly young scientific discipline and there is a need for the development of 
new methods for evaluation and research. This includes full-scale disaster exercisers. A standardized concept on 
how to evaluate these exercises, could lead to easier identification of pitfalls caused by system-errors in the 
organization. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a combination of performance and 
outcome indicators so that results can be compared in standardized full-scale exercises. 

Methods: Two multidisciplinary, full-scale exercises were studied in 2008 and 2010. The panorama had the same 
setup. Sets of performance indicators combined with indicators for unfavorable patient outcome were recorded in 
predesigned templates. Evaluators, all trained in a standardized way at a national disaster medicine centre, scored 
the results on predetermined locations; at the scene, at hospital and at the regional command and control. 

Results: All data regarding the performance indicators of the participants during the exercises were obtained as 
well as all data regarding indicators for patient outcome. Both exercises could therefore be compared regarding 
performance (processes) as well as outcome indicators. The data from the performance indicators during the 
exercises showed higher scores for the prehospital command in the second exercise 15 points and 3 points 
respectively. Results from the outcome indicators, patient survival and patient complications, demonstrated a higher 
number of preventable deaths and a lower number of preventable complications in the exercise 2010. In the 
exercise 2008 the number of preventable deaths was lower and the number of preventable complications 
was higher. 

Conclusions: Standardized multidisciplinary, full-scale exercises in different settings can be conducted and 
evaluated with performance indicators combined with outcome indicators enabling results from exercises to be 
compared. If exercises are performed in a standardized way, results may serve as a basis for lessons learned. Future 
use of the same concept using the combination of performance indicators and patient outcome indicators may 
demonstrate new and important evidence that could lead to new and better knowledge that also may be applied 
during real incidents. 

Keywords: Airplane crash. Disaster preparedness. Disaster management. Disaster response. Educational model. 
Field exercise. Major incident. Simulation 



* Correspondence: monica.radestad{S)ki.se 

'Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education and 
Section of Emergency Medicine, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden 
Eull list of author information is available at the end of the article 

O© 2012 Radestad et at; licensee BioMed Central ttd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative 
BIOIVIGCI CCntrBl commons Attribution ticense (httpy/creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and 
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 2 of 8 



Background 

The overall aim for medical responses to disasters and 
major incidents (Mis) is to achieve the best possible out- 
come for the most number of victims. However, in order 
to evaluate the outcome of a response you also need to 
assess the processes involved. To be able to do this there 
is a need for standardization and for sets of goals 
(bench-marks) reflecting what is to be considered as 
good and less good performance. These processes and 
goals must be developed in a way that allows them to be 
systematically studied, analyzed and with the possibility 
to compare results and experiences [1-3]. Several 
researchers have indicated the need for validated assess- 
ment methods performed in a scientifically genuine 
manner in order to measure the effectiveness of disaster 
medicine response [4-8]. 

In most healthcare systems the use of quality indica- 
tors are mandatory for determining standards and meas- 
uring quality. The challenge is to address indicators even 
in the field of disaster medicine. The use of measurable 
quality indicators to determine the level of performance 
against predetermined goals and objectives has been 
addressed in previous studies [9-11]. In these studies the 
quality indicators represent standards (times and con- 
tent) of what is desirable performance of the manage- 
ment during Mis and disasters and were results from 
process- and concept modelling and/or opinion of an 
expert panel [10]. 

A few educational models for simulation of disaster 
management and Mis response are accepted and used in 
Sweden [12,13]. However, there are a limited number of 
full-scale exercises (FSE) and systematic and validated 
evaluation tools are still in the process of being devel- 
oped. Therefore the competence and effectiveness of the 
emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital per- 
formance seldom are assessed in a way that allows 
results to be compared. The question arises whether a 
standardized evaluation methodology would be applic- 
able in a FSE to assess if and how the management is 
related to the patient outcome. The aim of this study 
was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a combin- 
ation of performance and outcome indicators so that 
results can be compared in standardized full-scale 
exercises. 

Methods 

Description of the exercises 

A quantitative evaluation method was applied in two 
multidisciplinary, FSE (major aircraft accident) in two 
regions in Sweden. The two exercises studied were con- 
ducted in October 2008 and in April 2010 at two differ- 
ent airports. The time interval, 18 months, between the 
exercises is due to the willingness of the two different 
airports and county councils to participate in this study. 



According to national regulations, each international air- 
port is mandated to perform an exercise every other 
year, and there were, to our knowledge, no other airport 
exercises during this time interval [14]. 

Exercise scenario 

The scenario was: an aircraft carrying passengers and 
crew that crashed during a landing attempt resulting in 
99 respectively 100 victims (99 for the reason that one 
person, aimed to be figurant, felt sick on a late notice). 
In both exercises the participants, EMS and hospital 
personnel, were all familiar with the management struc- 
ture (doctrine) at MI and disaster and expected to re- 
spond according to plans and procedures as stated in 
the national regulations issued by the Swedish National 
Board of Health and Welfare [15]. 

A total of 131 and 69 health care workers, respectively 
participated in the exercises. The exercises were con- 
ducted in real-time. All the participants were alerted and 
dispatched according to the disaster plan. The available 
resources in both exercise settings, ambulance, helicop- 
ter, health care, fire and rescue service, police and other 
responding agencies, were all defined in beforehand. Fig- 
urants acted as mock victims and had injuries that were 
appropriate to what was to be expected in this type of 
accident. Each victim had their injuries visualized on a 
figurant- card and all injuries had predetermined med- 
ical needs according to a specific template in the Emergo 
Train System® (ETS) victim bank [12]. 

The victim's conditions were expressed in physio- 
logical parameters. The basis for the victim bank has 
been developed on a national consensus among trauma- 
tologists. ETS is a simulation tool for education and 
training in disaster medicine which can be used both for 
table top exercises and field exercises as well as tem- 
plates for evaluating results of performance and the 
treatment of the victims. A similar system is the Mass 
Casualty Simulation system (MACSIM) but with further 
developed injury card [13]. 

Exercise design and mock victim distribution 

Figure 1 shows how the exercise design was built up 
using the flexibility of a standardized victim set. The 
flow chart of victims is based on distribution from the 
scene of the accident through virtual transport to the 
hospital emergency department (ED). All victims were 
on-site triaged and treated by medical personnel and dis- 
tributed to hospitals by the designated duty officer 
(DDO) at the strategic level of management (Figure 2). 
In 2008 live figurants were used to act as victims at the 
ED and in 2010 magnet victim symbols were used and 
displayed on whiteboards according to the simulation 
system [12]. 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 3 of 8 



Local level on Scene* 
i 



] 




Regional (strategic) level* 

* 



Local level at Hospital"* 
i 



ED 



OR, ICU, XRAY 



Live figurants 
with figurant- 
cards 2008 



Virtual 

■=> 

transport 



Magn et 
victim 
symbols 
displayed 
on wh iteboards 
2010 



Live figurants 
wjith figurant- 
cards 2008 



Magn et 
victim 
symbols 
displayed 
on wh iteboards 
2010 



Figure 1 Flow chart of victim distribution. Overall design of two full-scale disaster exercises including the possibility to use figurant-cards, 
combined with tabletop simulation. *At the regional level results from performance indicators were obtained. **At the local level on scene and in 
hospital results from both performance indicators and patient outcome were obtained. 



Injury panorama Aircraft accident 



Priority 



Unconscious > 10 min "brain contusion" 
Traumatic brain injury 



Thoracic injuries (haemothorax-pneuraothorax) 



Pulmonary contusion 

Blunt abdominal trauma/Major pelvic rupture with clinical signs of 
shock 

Penetrating abdominal injury 



Concussion 



Neck trauma- suspected spinal injury 
Fracture- need of operation 



Lacerations/hand injury- need of operation 



Thoracolumbar injuries 

Minor injuries- assessment in the Emergency room 



Severe psychological shock 



No visible injury 

Severe multiple injury or bum injury 90% of a Body Surface Aiea 



Dies on scene before transport 



27% 
Tl (red) 



22% 
T2 
(yellow) 



39% 
T3 
(green) 



I 



2% 



10% 



Figure 2 Distribution of predetermined priorities of victims (n = 100) according to the injury panorama in ETS. Triage categories were 
based on the physiological parameters obtained from the figurant-card as respiratory rate, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and Glasgow Coma 
Scale. Tl (red) immediate, severely injured; T2 (yellow) urgent, moderately injured; T3 (green) not urgent, minor injured; (Black) dead. 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 4 of 8 



Table 1 Sets of performance indicators and standards 
used for evaluation in full-scale disaster exercises 



Prehospital 

command and control 



Standard 

(time frame in min) 



Putting on tabard* 

First report to dispatcli 

Content on first report 

Formulate guidelines for response 

Establish contract with 
strategic level of command 

Liaison with fire and police 

Second report from scene 

Content of second report 

Establish level of medical ambition 
First patient evacuated 
nformation to media on scene 
Regional command and control 

Declaring major incident 

Deciding level of preparedness 

Decision on additional resources 
to scene 

Deciding on receiving hospitals 

Establishing contact with incident 
officers at scene 

Deciding on guidelines for referring 
hospitals 

Brief information to media 

Formulate general guidelines in 
accordance with guidelines from scene 

Make sure there is information for 
definitive referral guidelines 

Evaluated if capacity of own 
organisation is sufficient 

Notify guidelines on referring 
hospitals 

Hospital command and control 

Decide on level of preparedness 

Formulate guidelines for hospital 
response 

nform media 

Give information about resources 
to strategic level 

Ensuring that there is a medica 
officer in emergency operation 

Estimate need of ICU beds 

First information to staff 

Estimate endurance of staff 



Directly* 
2 

IVl ETHANE** 

3 

5 

5 

10 

Verifying first report 
Indicating first 
patient transport 

10 

15 

30 

Standard 

(time frame in min) 
1 

3 
3 



10 

10 

15 
15 

20 

30 

40 

Standard 

(time frame in min) 

3 

15 

15 
25 

30 

45 

60 
90 



Table 1 Sets of performance indicators and standards 
used for evaluation in full-scale disaster exercises 

(Continued) 

Evaluate and report estimated 
shortage of own capacity 

Evaluate influence on the daily 
hospital activities 

Information plan for patients with 
postponed appointments and operations 

Regional and Hospital staff procedure skills 



120 



120 



Assigning functions to all the staff 
members directly upon arrival 

Placement in room according to 
function in staff 

Designated telephone numbers 

Introduction of newly arrived staff 
member 

Utilization of available equipment^ 

Maximum 8 min for "staff briefing" 

Content of "staff briefing"'' 

Telephone discipline during "staff 
briefing" 

Drawing and content of "staff 
schedule" 

Summary after session, orally 
Summary after session, written 



Standard 
(time frame in min) 

Directly on arrival 

Directly 

Directly 
Maximum 1 



Yes/No 



Yes/No 



Yes/No 
Yes/No 



* Vest, clearly labelled for identification of medical and ambulance staff. 
** Major incident declared. Exact location. Type of incident. Hazards, 
Accessibility, Number of casualties. Emergency Services required. Acronym for 
the content, defined in the IVlajor Incident Medical IVlanagement and Support 
Course (IVIIMMS). 

^ Equipment available; v\/hiteboard, flipchart, fax, and computer. 

^Reports from all functions, summarizing, assigning new tasks, time for next 

briefing. 

Instead of actually transporting the victims to the hos- 
pital by ambulances, ambulances were in both settings 
used only at the scene of the accident, and for a short 
transportation to the point where victims data were 
reported to the receiving hospitals. This data, regarding 
measures performed on each victim, was at this point 
collected by trained nurses and reported by telephone to 
the hospital ED. Also, the expected time of arrival 
(according to real transportation time) was reported. 
This meant, that a mock-victim in 2008 and magnet vic- 
tim symbol in 2010, were presented with exactly the 
same data as the mock-victim that had participated on- 
scene, could be presented at the ED. By using this 
method, fewer ambulances were needed at the scene of 
the accident although the realism was the same. In a real 
MI probably 25-30 ambulances would rapidly respond 
to the requirement through the dispatch centre. For ob- 
vious reason access to ambulances is limited in FSE. 
However, for testing the concept merely two hospitals 
participated, one in each exercise, and received 17 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 5 of 8 



victims, respectively. Both hospitals were emergency 
hospitals, and had a capacity of 302 and 309 beds, re- 
spectively. Available intensive care unit beds were 13 
and 12 respectively, and operating rooms were nine and 
ten respectively. The time period in hospital, for each 
victim, included the time spent at the ED, x-ray, surgery 
(OR) and the estimated time for post operative- and in- 
tensive care. Performance- and patient outcome indica- 
tors were included in the evaluation of both exercises. 

Data collected 

The external evaluators were registered nurses and 
doctors certified as instructors in a Swedish national 
concept in disaster preparedness [15]. One or two eva- 
luators were positioned at designated areas and used a 
protocol with sets of performance indicators as tem- 
plates, all trained in a standardized way at a national 
disaster medicine centre (Table 1). These indicators 
were the same as those that had been used in previous 
studies [9-11]. 

The protocols were used for evaluation of performance 
at two different levels of medical management, regional 
level (in international literature often called strategic or 
gold level) and local level i.e. on-scene and in hospital 
(Figure 1). 

The performance indicators covered early decision- 
making (management skills), as well as staff perform- 
ance. The level was scored by giving 0, 1, or 2 points 
where 0 point was given if the performance was not 
timely or adequate, 1 point if the result was somewhat 
correct and 2 points for a timely and by content, correct 
performance. Each template contained 11 indicators, 
thereby allowing for 22 points being maximum achiev- 
able level of result (Table 1). Eleven out of 22 points 
where considered satisfactory. 

The outcome indicator, patient outcome, was evaluated 
in terms of risk for preventable death or complication 
[12]. Each victim was assigned to specific measures in 
order to be expected to have a favorable outcome, all 
according to templates that are included in the ETS. If 
these treatments were not performed or performed too 
late, according to the ETS stipulated timeframe, the pa- 
tient will have a preventable complication or death. In 



ETS every specific treatment or transfer are performed 
according to a "real-time" approach. 

All logistical and clinical data were registered at the 
scene of the accident and in hospital, regarding the care 
performed in real time, by participants who had been 
trained and instructed in ETS template. 

Results 

All data regarding the performance indicators of the 
participants during the exercises were obtained as well 
as all data regarding indicators for patient outcome. 
Both exercises could therefore be compared regarding 
performance (process) as well as outcome (result) 
indicators. 

Performance indicators 

All result were on approved level except for prehospital 
command in the first exercise 2008 that scored 3 points 
compared to the second exercise 2010 that scored 15 
points. Apart from this result, all other results were on 
the same level in the two exercises (Table 2). In common 
for the regional management groups is that there were 
low scores for establishing contact with incident officers 
at the scene, first information to media and estimating if 
resources within their own organization were adequate 
for managing the accident. All management groups 
(hospital and strategic) received high score in perform- 
ance of staff skills as well as regarding correct and timely 
decisions. 

Outcome indicators 

Results from the patient outcome indicators, that is pre- 
ventable death and/or preventable complications, 
demonstrated a higher number of preventable deaths in 
exercise 2010, (n = 7) compared in the 2008 exercise 
(n = 5). Regarding the preventable complications the 
results were opposite with a higher number in the 2008 
exercise (n = 9) compared to the 2010 exercise (n = 5) 
(Table 3). Out of 99 respectively 100 victims, the partici- 
pating hospital in each exercise received totally 17 
injured victims prioritized as Tl and T2. The numbers 
of ambulances were according to plan and were consid- 
ered to be on an adequate level (simulated as previously 



Table 2 Results based on templates of performance indicators, expressed in points 

Management level Exercise 2008 Exercise 2010 

Category Category 

Command & control* Staff procedure* skills Command & Control* Staff procedure* skills 

Prehospital (Local level) 3 Not assessed 15 Not assessed 

Regional 15 17 18 21 

Hospital (Local level) 17 21 17 20 



*Maximum score was 22 points in each category where 1 1 different indicators were given 0, 1 or 2 points. Score: Correct decision and in right time. Correct = 2 
points, Partly correct = 1 points, Incorrect = 0 points. 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 6 of 8 



Table 3 Patient outcome expressed as preventable 
complications and preventable death in two, full-scale 
disaster exercises 





Exercise 2008 


Exercise 2010 


Preventable Complication 


53% (9/1 7*) 


29% (5/1 7*) 


Preventable Death 


29% (5/1 7*) 


41% (7/17*) 



*AII 17 victims receiving the participating hospital were at risk, according to 
ETS template, for having unfavorable outcome expressed as preventable 
complication or preventable death. 



described). The first victim arrived at the ED 100 min 
respectively 105 min after the accident, for the last vic- 
tim this was 235 min and 273 min respectively. 

Discussion 

This study demonstrates the possibility of conducting 
standardized exercises with built-in evaluation method- 
ology that can produce comparable results. The discus- 
sion in this paper focuses more on the methodology 
than the results from the exercises per se. A prerequisite 
for results from evaluations to be comparable is that the 
exercises are evaluated the same way, making it possible 
to obtain valid data to be recorded. In the present study 
we have demonstrated the possibility to apply both per- 
formance and outcome indicators in multidisciplinary, 
FSE. Indicators should be based on well-developed stan- 
dards established and accepted by the organization to 
ensure comparability and reproducibility. The selected 
indicators were derived from a national concept and 
process modeling conducted by the National Board of 
Health and Welfare in Sweden [15]. Idvall et al. 
describes this as 'the key to good quality indicators' and 
the only certain way of knowing what is good or less 
good by comparing performance against the standard 
[16]. Furthermore, Idvall et al. clarifies that the most im- 
portant indicator is the patient outcome, and it is a 
product influenced by all activities in an organization 
and should be measured together with other indicators. 
Standards (bench-marks) for evaluation methods that 
examine and describe the relation between the perform- 
ance in disaster management and the patient outcome 
are yet to be described [17]. 

The evaluation model exposed several challenges faced 
in the initial decision-making procedures that were re- 
peatedly observed and had major impact on patient 
outcome. For example, insufficient reporting and incon- 
sistent coordination among responders that limited the 
ability to evacuate severely injured victims and resulted 
in comparatively high numbers of preventable death and 
complications. Despite good access to available ambu- 
lances in both exercises failure of rapid evacuation indi- 
cates that decisions made in this context were less than 
optimal which could possibly have been reflected in the 
patient outcome. By using the proposed model each 



agency will have increased possibilities to specifically 
identify what part of the command and control that 
needs to be improved. The fact that the difference be- 
tween the prehospital command and control, as illu- 
strated in Table 2, did not show in patient outcome can 
however, not be explained and this is something that 
may have to be addressed using different research meth- 
ods. At this stage, after only a few exercises, it is still too 
early to assess any relationship between performance 
and outcome. There is also a need to study if timely 
decisions or actions are more important than the con- 
tent of the performance. In the present study the two 
prehospital organizations had different training concepts 
with regard to command and control, even though they 
had to follow the same regulations in performing [15]. 

Efficient disaster management requires information 
sharing, follow up and coordinated decision-making 
among involved agencies. Jufferman and Bierens studied 
five national disaster responses and noted that many 
shortages are repeated despite changes in protocols, le- 
gislation and organizations [6]. For this reason there is a 
need for interagency training to improve operational 
decisions. Circumstances at the scene such as time 
-period, geography, weather conditions, reliable commu- 
nication systems and security are other essential factors 
that may affect the response and therefore have to be 
considered in the assessment. This problem was recently 
described after a real aircraft incident where there were 
difficulties to evacuate the victims and this delayed the 
distribution of victims to hospitals [18]. 

The use of standardized education and training mod- 
els, with built-in evaluation possibilities, allows compari- 
sons and could lead to better knowledge and improve 
disaster medicine evidence in management system. In 
this study the first exercise was reproduced and the 
same type of evaluation, obtaining the same types of 
comparable results, was used in the second exercise. To 
be able to draw valid conclusions, the number of exer- 
cises performed must be higher. But this is also depend- 
ing on number of indicators and methodology chosen. 
However, in our opinion, we must already start now to 
collect data as described in this study in order for 
the lessons learned in the processes not to be delayed 
further. The rational for this is the development of a 
robust design of the evaluation model used in the 
present study. 

In the planning phase consideration was, in this study, 
taken both to each hospitals request of participation as 
well as their concerns regarding financing of staff which 
had impact upon the exercise design (Figure 1). In our 
view, the difference in methodology regarding live figur- 
ants vs. virtual victims used at hospital, shows the mod- 
els robustness in several settings. It is our belief that 
before engaging several hospitals in this type of 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 7 of 8 



Structured exercises it should be prioritized to evaluate 
the first steps of the process. When this model becomes 
more accepted, additional units that can be trained and 
evaluated should be introduced. 

Significance of tliis study for tlie future 

To achieve greater acceptance methods with valid indi- 
cators need to be promoted by the health care providers. 
By using the same indicators in the evaluation of real 
incidents, in relation to available patient data, it would 
be possible to not only compare the performance indica- 
tors but also to validate the outcome indicators chosen 
in the exercises. The comparison with real incidents will 
give clues if we are educating and training the staff in 
the best way, and comparing results will provide infor- 
mation about possible improvements of the pedagogic 
educational simulation system used today. Knowledge 
that will emerge from this will no doubt, improve the 
possibility to conduct measurements in order to improve 
the disaster response before a real incident occurs. It will 
also reduce the time consumption for planning and 
after-action report writing. 

Indicators are now gradually introduced in different 
regions in Sweden, so far, for evaluating the effect of 
training in order to measure quality in performance 
related to the management doctrine, reflected by re- 
gional regulations, supported by the Swedish National 
Board of Health and Welfare. Also in an international 
study results from using the same sets of indicators has 
recently been published [19]. 

In this study we have not considered structure indica- 
tors relating to staff, time and financial costs. Results 
from future studies with a systematic approach to the 
structure indicators will provide important information 
on how train and exercises should be conducted in the 
best way. 

Limitations 

Competency and quality between different levels of 
management and organisations in this paper can depend 
on variation of personnel's professional qualifications, 
education, experience and training in disaster medicine 
and might be a limitation. This applies also to the eva- 
luators. Different evaluators may give different scoring 
for different processes. There is also a need to study if 
timely decisions or actions are more important than the 
content of the performance.The used simulation system 
may have limitations for evaluating patient outcome, but 
until studies from real incidents (where performance 
indicators as well as outcome indicators) are available 
we believe that this method will provide valid results. 

The basis to use 11 points as acceptable level for 
measuring performance is based on results from training 
and examination sessions in command and control 



during several years of experience [9-11]. However, it 
could well be that any of the indicators could be more 
important than the others. Correlations studies may give 
answer to this. It may also well be that the indicators in 
the future must be weighted. 

The figurant in the first exercise, that fell sick on late 
notice did not simulate a critical injured patient and was 
not intended to be sent to the participating hospital. 
Therefore we do not believe that this has any effect on 
the results. 

Cost effectiveness, in regards to this subject, was 
not addressed in this study. This is due to the lack 
of systematic documentation of total costs for all 
involved staff including time for planning as well as the 
actual exercise. 

Conclusions 

Standardized FSE in different settings can be conducted 
and evaluated with performance indicators combined 
with outcome indicators enabling results from exercises 
to be compared. If exercises are performed in a standar- 
dized way, results may serve as a basis for lessons 
learned. Future use of the same concept using the com- 
bination of performance indicators and patient outcome 
indicators may demonstrate new and important evidence 
that could lead to new and better knowledge that also 
may be applied during real incidents. 

Competing interests 

This work was performed by Stockholm Prehospital Centre (SPC) in 
cooperation with the Centre of Teaching in Disaster Medicine and 
Traumatology (KMC), Linkoping University, Sweden and the Sophiahemmet 
University College, Stockholm, Sweden. The authors declare that they have 
no competing interests. 

Authors' contributions 

MR was involved in the study design, exercise data collection, analysis, and 
manuscript writing. HN was involved in the study design and data collection. 
MC and IS contributed to the finalization of the manuscript AR and DG was 
involved in the study design and took an active part in the data collection, 
analysis and manuscript writing, revision and editing. All authors read and 
approved the final version of the manuscript 

Acl<nowledgments 

This study was supported by grants from the Stockholm County Council. The 
authors thank the Air Navigation Services of Sweden and the County 
Administrative Board of Stockholm and the County Administrative Board of 
Jamtland for the opportunity to participate in the exercises that resulted in 
this study, as well as the support from different organizations that 
contributed to this project 

Author details 

^Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education and 
Section of Emergency Medicine, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. ^Centre 
for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine and Traumatology, Linkoping 
University, Linkoping, Sweden. ^Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical 
Science and Education, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. ^Sophiahemmet 
University College, Stockholm, Sweden. ^Karolinska Institutet Department of 
Physiology and Pharmacology and Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive 
care, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Received: 19 March 2012 Accepted: 19 August 2012 
Published: 28 August 2012 



Radestad et al. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 201 2, 20;58 
http://www.sjtrem.eom/content/20/1/58 



Page 8 of 8 



References 

1. Sundnes KO, Birnbaum ML: Health disaster management guidelines for 
evaluation and research in the Utstein style. Prehosp Disaster Med 2003, 
17(Suppl 3):1 13-127. 

2. Lennquist S: Promotion disaster medicine to a scientific discipline - A 
slow and painful but necessary process. Editorial. International Journal of 
Disaster Medicine 2003, 2:95-96. 

3. Auf Der Heide E: The importance of evidence-based disaster planning. 
Ann Emerg Med 2006, 47:34-49. 

4. Kaji AH, Lewis RJ: Assessment of the reliability of the Johns Hopkins/ 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality hospital disaster drill 
evaluation tool. Ann Emerg Med 2008, 52:204-210. 

5. Jenckes M, Catlett C, Hsu E, et ah Development of evaluation modules for 
use in hospital drills. Am J Disaster Med 2007, 2:87-95. 

6. Juffermans J, Bierens JJ: Recurrent medical response problems during five 
recent disasters in the Netherlands. Prehosp Disaster Med 2010, 
25(2):137-138. 

7. Savoia E, Biddinger PD, Burstein J, Stoto MA: Inter-agency communication 
and operations capabilities during a hospital functional exercise: 
reliability and validity of a measurement tool. Prehosp Disaster Med 2010, 
25(1):52-58. 

8. Legemaate G, Burkle F, Bierens J: The evaluation of research methods 
during disaster exercises: Applicability for improving disaster health 
management. Prehosp Disaster Med 2012, 27(l):18-26. 

9. Ruter A, Ortenwall P, Vikstrom T: Performance indicators for major 
incident medical management - a possible tool for quality control? 
Internatlonai Journal of Disaster Medicine 2004, 2:52-55. 

10. Ruter A, Lundmark T, Odmansson E, Vikstrom T: The development of a 
national doctrine for management of major incidents and disasters. 
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2006, 14:189-194 

11. Ruter A, Ortenwall P, Vikstrom T: Staff procedure skills in management 
groups during exercises in disaster medicine. Prehosp Disaster Med 2007, 
22{4):31 8-321. 

12. Emergo Train System'^. 2012. Available at website 
http7/ WA/vw.emergotrain.com Accessed 29 May. 

1 3. Mass Casuaity Simulation system (MACSIM) ®. 201 2. Available at website 
http7/ vmvw.macsim.se. Accessed 29 May. 

14. Swedish transport agency. Regulation TESF 2010:1 14. 2012. Available at 
website http://wwwtransportstyrelsen.se Accessed 16 February. 

15. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare: Regulation SOSFS 2005. 
13th edition. 2012. Available at website 
http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/sosfs/2005-1 3 Accessed 24 August 

16. Idvall F, Rooke L, Hamrin F: Quality indicators in clinical nursing: a review 
of the literature. J Adv Nurs 1 997, 25:6-1 7. 

17. Nilsson H, Ruter A: Management of resources at major incidents and 
disasters in relation to patient outcome: a pilot study of an educational 
model. Eur J Emerg Med 2008, 15:162-165. 

18. Postma ILE Winkelhagen J, Bloemers FW, Heetveld MJ, Bijisma TS, Gosling 
JC: February 2009 Airplane Crash at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: An 
Overview of Injuries and Patient Distribution. Prehosp Disaster Med 201 1, 
26(4):299-304 

19. France JM, Nichols D, Dong S: Increasing emergency medicine residents' 
confidence in disaster management: use of an Emergency Department 
simulator and an expedited curriculum. Prehosp Disaster Med 2012, 
27(l):31-35. 



doi:1 0.1 1 86/1 757-7241 -20-58 

Cite this article as: Radestad et ai: Combining performance and 
outcome indicators can be used in a standardized way: a pilot study of 
two multidisciplinary, full-scale major aircraft exercises. Scandinavian 
Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2012 20:58. 



Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Central 
and take full advantage of: 

• Convenient online submission 

• Thorough peer review 

• No space constraints or color figure charges 

• Immediate publication on acceptance 

• Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar 

• Research which is freely available for redistribution 



Submit your manuscript at \ rant,,\ 

www.biomedcentral.com/submit Biomea eencrai